Le, a man from Wuhan city, Hubei province, was rushed to the hospital with a detached retina in his right eye. According to SCMP, he had repeatedly slapped his eye to "ward off bad luck" due to persistent eyelid twitching, fearing it was a bad omen.
This belief stems from a common Chinese folk proverb: "A twitching left eye brings wealth, while a twitching right eye brings disaster." Red Star News reported that Le had experienced discomfort for several days due to his right eyelid constantly twitching. Despite his attempts to rest his eye and apply warm compresses, the condition did not improve. Believing the eye twitch was a bad omen, Le became anxious and searched online for remedies instead of seeking medical attention.
Online, he read information suggesting that slapping the eyelid could "drive away bad luck." Additionally, some elderly people in China also believe that attaching a small piece of white paper to the eyelid can stop the twitching. Changjiang Daily reported that Le continuously slapped the area around his right eye for three days. The twitching eventually stopped, but a more serious problem arose: his vision narrowed suddenly until he could only see straight ahead, with peripheral vision on both sides completely gone.
Le sought help at the hospital when his vision severely deteriorated and was diagnosed with retinal detachment. After surgery, doctors successfully restored his vision, saving his eyes from the risk of blindness.
Doctors stated that the human retina has an average thickness of less than 0.3 mm. A strong slap can transmit force through the eyeball, increasing the risk of retinal tearing. Most short-term eyelid twitches are related to eye strain, lack of sleep, or stress, and usually subside after rest.
Experts advise people against over-interpreting superstitious beliefs such as eye twitching bringing wealth or disaster. If eyelid twitching persists continuously for over one week or tends to spread to the cheek area, corner of the mouth, and nearby regions, patients should seek immediate medical examination. It is crucial not to self-slap or massage the eyes, as these actions can cause more serious vision damage.
